8 Ways To Combat Oily Skin During Summer

There are many amazing things about an Aussie summer – beach hangs, barbecues and trays of fresh mangoes to name a few contenders – but for some (slash most) of us there’s also a pretty major downside.

A delightful oily sheen on our faces thanks to the scorching temps.

But we’ve spoken to dermatologist Dr Eleni Yiasemides to find out how to combat oily skin during the summer season.

Change up your skincare routine

“It needs to be realised that the moisturiser that women were using in the winter may not be suitable for the summer months,” Dr Eleni says.

“Women will benefit from a lighter non-comedogenic clinically proven moisturiser with active ingredients designed for oily to combination skin. This is a moisturiser that won’t block pores and controls excess oils throughput the day. It’s also highly important to apply SPF in the winter time. Some women with oily skin refrain from applying SPF as they fear it will add oil to their oily skin- but this is causing more harm than good. Women need to find a sunscreen that will not leave excess oil on the skin on humid days and these include well formulated, oil free and non-comedogenic sunscreens.”

Use a 3 step process

“Always participate in the 3-step process to achieve clear skin, cleansing, treating and moisturising. Using the steps means that you have the potential to help achieve a clear, radiant complexion and is a simple regime to help manage oily or acne prone skin,” Dr Eleni explains.

"Each step has its own role and if used correctly together, are very effective. Cleansing gently removes surface dirt, oil, bacteria, skin cells and other debris from the surface of the skin and helps to prepare the skin for treatment. A treatment then targets acne-causing bacteria and unblocks pores. Moisturising then ensures that excess oils are controlled throughout the day without blocking pores. Along with this, truly knowing what your skin type is and what works for you. Just because it works for someone else doesn’t mean that it works for you."

Don’t over cleanse

“The skin contains natural oils and proteins that are part of the barrier of the skin that protects our skin and body from the environment. Using harsh soaps, exfoliating products and detergents on the skin may strip the skin of these natural oils and can cause lots of problems. In general, most people only need to cleanse their face once a day and at the end of the day is ideal. I recommend using a soap-free gentle cleanser for the face. Avoid face scrubs and harsh astringent cleansers - they only irritate the skin. I also highly discourage people from the ‘double cleansing’ as there are no known health benefits related to this practice.

Chill out

“Avoid long hot showers – this will dry out the skin. Better to take a hot bath rather than a hot shower in winter.”

Stop squeezing your spots

“Some people find it almost irresistible to not squeeze or pick their pimples, but doing so only creates more problems with scarring and pigment change in the skin. If you have a big event coming up, be strict with your skincare regime months in advance to help avoid breakouts.”

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Find the right product for you

"Relying on what you have read in a magazine or what your friend does for their skin may not necessarily be the best thing for your skin. Often people aren’t even aware of what skin type they have or have falsely believed they have a certain skin type. Simply put, there are no two skins that are identical and maintaining good skin health requires an individual approach."

Check the ingredients

"If you use a primer that is oil based and a foundation that is water based these may not sit properly on the face. We all know that oil and water don’t mix in cooking, and this is the same when applied to the face."

Diet changes are not a miracle cure

"Although eating healthy will improve your wellbeing, changes to your diet will not miraculously cure your skin. Unfortunately avoiding certain ingredients in foods (e.g. the main suspects gluten and/or dairy) usually does not improve the appearance of the skin or cure acne. Also, another common myth is that if you drink lots of water this makes your skin look younger and removes wrinkles - again this is simply not true. It’s important to stay hydrated but your level of water hydration really doesn’t cause or contribute to the appearance of your wrinkles."